Heartstrings

Suitability: Key Stage Three, Key Stage Four
Heartstrings uses the medium of storytelling and techniques of dramatic
performance to explore and expand understanding of the impact and
repercussions of domestic violence. It was developed with funding, practical
support and advice from the Cheshire Education PSHE Advisory Team, and the
Home Office. The project helps children to begin to challenge received attitudes
towards violence and think about whether violence is ever acceptable.
The story emphasises that domestic violence may take many forms; that putdowns and psychological cruelty, and oppressive control of one partner by
another, may be as much examples of domestic violence as physical abuse. The
telling exploits the dynamic qualities of storytelling and dramatic performance
to examine emotions and situations and explore escape strategies empathetically,
and will include workshop elements by which the audience will be encouraged to
engage directly with the characters and themes in the story